Phases of the doctoral degree

Phases of the doctoral degree (abridged from the Doctoral Handbook (PDF))

The Early Phase: Provisional Year

• Preparing a full thesis proposal
• Completing a literature review
• Completing an ethics application (if required)
• Mid-year review
• Provisional year review

The Mid Phase

• Writing, writing, writing
• Data collection
• Annual reports

The Final Phase: Completion Year

• Handing in the penultimate draft
• Submitting your thesis for examination
• Appointing examiners
• The oral examination
• Depositing your thesis
• Graduating

Provisional registration

PhD candidates are initially provisionally registered. Provisional registration includes particular goals for the candidate to achieve in the first twelve months. Upon satisfactory completion of the first year, a candidate’s registration is confirmed. At 12 months, the Graduate Centre sends the provisional year review forms. These need to be filled out by the student and supervisor(s). Forms are forwarded to the PhD Coordinator and approved by the Department PhD Committee.

Failure to complete all tasks assigned in the first year research plan may result in termination of registration and fellowships. 

Annual review

The annual review is a similar process to the review after the first year, but no research proposal is required and no PhD Committee approval is necessary. The PhD Coordinator signs the forms and forwards them to the Faculty.

Change of conditions

Changes to your study plan should be discussed with your supervisor and the PhD Coordinator. The Graduate Centre must be notifed of changes such as

• Suspension
• Termination
• Change from full time to part time or from part time to full time
• Absence for more than two months

As a doctoral candidate, you will be re-enrolled at the beginning of each academic year by the School of Graduate Studies. Fees should be paid on time each year to ensure successful re-enrolment

More information is available about doctoral procedures, policies and outlines.

Or contact: phdcoordinator@cs.auckland.ac.nz